Huntsville Living December 2024 | Page 27

The long-term effects of proper childhood dental care

Parents of young children are undoubtedly familiar with the morning and nighttime ritual of getting kids to brush their teeth . Kids may or may not embrace that routine no matter how hard parents try to relate the benefits of proper oral hygiene , but moms and dads can take solace in the knowledge that childhood dental care can have a positive and lasting effect on kids ’ overall health .

Dental care and heart disease

Harvard Health Publishing notes that numerous studies have now shown that people with poor oral health exhibit higher rates of cardiovascular issues , including heart attack and stroke . The reason behind that remains something of a medical mystery , but some theorize that bacteria that infects gums and causes conditions such as gingivitis and periodontitis trigger an immune response , inflammation , that then contributes to vascular damage .

Dental care and Alzheimer ’ s disease

The National Institute on Aging reports that a recent analysis published in the Journal of Alzheimer ’ s Disease noted the bacteria that cause gum disease are also linked with the development of Alzheimer ’ s disease . That analysis found that older adults with signs of periodontitis , a condition marked by inflammation of tissue around the teeth that can cause loosening of the teeth , were more likely to develop Alzheimer ’ s disease . Additional research is necessary before more concrete conclusions about the link between dental care and Alzheimer ’ s disease can be made , but dental care that protects the gums could very well reduce individuals ’ risk for dementia .

Dental care and cancer risk

Cancer is among the leading causes of death across the globe , affecting people from all walks of life . Researchers at Harvard ’ s T . H . Chan School of Public Health discovered a link between dental care and cancer risk . In a letter published in the journal Gut in 2020 , researchers reported that they found that people with a history of gum disease have a higher risk of stomach and esophageal cancers than people with no such history . And that risk was not exactly minimal , as researchers reported a 43 percent higher risk for esophageal cancer and a 52 percent higher risk for stomach cancer .

An emphasis on lifelong oral hygiene in childhood could pay lasting dividends , potentially reducing kids ’ risk for various diseases when they reach adulthood .

HUNTSVILLE LIVING | DECEMBER 2024 | 27